Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591 ndash; 1666); best known as Guercino; or Il Guercino; was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from the region of Emilia; and active in Rome and Bologna. The vigorous naturalism of his early manner is in contrast to the classical equilibrium of his later works. His many drawings are noted for their luminosity and lively style. Guercino was remarkable for the extreme rapidity of his executions: he completed no fewer than 106 large altarpieces for churches; and his other paintings amount to about 144. He was also a prolific draftsman. His production includes many drawings; usually in ink; washed ink; or red chalk. Most of them were made as preparatory studies for his paintings; but he also drew landscapes; genre subjects; and caricatures for his own enjoyment. Guercinos drawings are known for their fluent style in which "rapid; calligraphic pen strokes combined with dots; dashes; and parallel hatching lines describe the forms".
#813742 in eBooks 2008-09-10 2008-09-10File Name: B00VQVPPIE
Review
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful. Gene Autrys life story; at lastBy Wayne EngleGene Autry; my childhood hero and that of millions of others; finally has gotten his due; on the eve of what would have been his 100th birthday. Autry was as unmistakably American as Will Rogers or Walt Disney; and every bit as remarkable. This book; the first full-length biography of Autry and superbly written by Holly George-Warren; explores every nook and cranny of his long; busy and productive life; telling of things that many of us already knew -- but in much more fascinating detail; exploding a few myths that Autry had encouraged about himself over the years; and adding more than a few revelations about his life that will shock the more naive of his fans. Gene Autry got the name in Hollywood of being a tightwad -- but thats not the picture we get from this book. Yes; he loved money with the passion of many people who had little or none of it growing up. But once having amassed a fortune in show business; he was for the rest of his life a "soft touch" not only for charities; but for old friends down on their luck; people who had helped him when he really needed it as a young; struggling performer -- and family members such as his neer-do-well father and brother. He spent countless hundreds of hours over the years visiting childrens hospitals to chat with; sing to; and encourage the smallest of his fans; many of them with terminal illnesses. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II when his studio had promised to get him a deferment so he wouldnt have to serve at all. He took flying lessons on his own time so he could qualify to be co-pilot of supply planes going to combat zones; when he could have spent his service time simply entertaining the other troops. Gene Autry was a giver; an extraordinarily generous man; first; last and always. The portions of the book about Autrys drinking problem and his "steppin out" with numerous women during his marriage; provide a human element to this great entertainer who wrote his own "Cowboy Code" but sometimes had trouble living up to all of it in his own life. Yes; folks; he was mortal after all; and not perfect. None of us are. If you look at the photo of a smiling Gene Autry on the cover; posed with his famous guitar; youll note the two dark shadows he throws on the backdrop -- perhaps the authors deliberate choice to symbolize his twin demons of liquor and lust. Far more important is what Gene Autry achieved; as documented meticulously by George-Warren. His records; movies; radio and TV programs; and personal appearances are discussed in intimate detail. Gene appears to have been an almost tireless human dynamo; on the go from morning to night. The less-admirable things he did were the other end of the equation -- he worked hard; AND played hard. Aspects of his personality that are not well known are discussed; also. He was a gregarious person; a practical joker and teaser; witty at times; and a gifted mimic who became known in Washington circles before and during World War II for his perfect imitation of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A committed Democrat; he was friends with Lyndon B. Johnson; Sam Rayburn; and others prominent in government -- but never discussed his political activities in public. After all; there were a lot of Autry fans who were Republicans; too! The only portion of the book which I found somewhat jarring and disquieting was his mothers final letter to him; written while she was slowly dying of pellagra in 1932. In the letter; which is disjointed and hard to understand; she seems to refer to something that Gene has done; or told her he was going to do; that she believes could get him into trouble. Had Gene confessed some dark secrets to her in his final visit home while she still lived? Or had he written them in a letter George-Warren said was mailed to her by Autry soon after he returned to Chicago where he was living then? Obviously it is far too late to determine the answer; with all parties to the situation dead; and George-Warren wisely does not speculate. She merely lets the letter and other information stand for themselves; without comment; and moves on with her narrative. Amazingly; personal reminiscences about Gene Autry from people who knew him when he was growing up are included in the book. In the acknowledgements in the back; George-Warren notes that there were people in Genes childhood home of Tioga; Texas; and the surrounding area; who some years ago suspected that someday a biography of him would be written; and who were prudent enough to record and preserve the recollections of a number of elderly residents who had known Gene in his young days. Even some of the people who arranged the interviews were deceased by the time George-Warren began her research for the book. But their descendants were glad to share these interviews with George-Warren to help her add color and flavor to "Public Cowboy No. 1." Every biographer should be that lucky! Holly George-Warren has done an exemplary job of gathering hundreds of strands of information; then weaving them together into a beautiful tapestry about one of the most unique Americans of the 20th Century. She has written a five-star biography of "Americas Favorite Cowboy;" Gene Autry. As a lifelong Autry fan; I heartily recommend the book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. "Everyone knew I could sing; but they didnt know I was better at arithmetic"By Richard M. RolloI recall the quote in the title from a tribute to Gene Autry in the Orange County Register shortly after his death ten years ago.For me; Gene Autry was mostly about the music. His old movies were on television during my childhood in the 1950s; along with those of Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers. I also enjoyed those shows; but I loved the songs that Gene Autry sang; "San Antonio Rose;" "Rancho Grande;" "The Old Lamplighter;" "South of the Border;" and I could go on and on. Not to mention "Back in the Saddle Again."For an earlier generation; he was to hillbilly music what Motown artists were to race records. He opened up a narrowly marketed niche music to a much larger audience on the radio and in movies. Before Gene Autry; these market niches were so narrow that anything with fiddles and guitars on the record were automatically assumed to be hillbilly records; such that the recordings of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of Paris were stocked in the Hillbilly section of some record stores.Holly George-Warren has written a superb biography. Gene Autry was a man of notable weaknesses that were outweighed by his strengths. He was dealt many poor hands and bad deals but he was able to overcome it through hard work; tenacity; and personal charm. His is a great story well documented and well told.Also; what comes to mind is how much he represented broad historical forces at work in his generation. The south was barely recovering from the Civil War when a devastating drought set in in the late 1920s. Gene Autry was part of the out migration of the sons of the south to the west. His life also reflected how the power center in the United States shifted southward and westward after World War II.The hardest thing in this world is to know when to say enough is enough. In that way; he was very human; but at least he wasnt destroyed by his excesses in the way of most men. He was wealthy; yet beloved. He and his first wife loved each other to the end; despite their troubles. He married well both times. He was a great judge of talent. He lived to be 91 and was active almost to the end. Beyond hero worship; I have a subtler admiration for him.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. PUBLIC AMERICAN NO.1!!!By Richard J. Oravitz...I cant think of any one man who better represents the American Idol image over the last century more so than Gene Autry; my favorite cowboy hero. He stood for everything American and upheld all of our countrys virtues and values; though he may have fallen short in his own personal life. Excellent Autry biography; much more so than Genes own autobio; BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN. We get an unbiased account of Gene; his financial dealings; his road to fame wealth and his personal satisfactions and shortcomings. Dont look here for detailed movie reviews; Boyd Magers book GENE AUTRY WESTERNS covers that. Holly George-Warren has given us a wonderful tribute to a man who should have had a decent biography written years ago. I know I kept waiting for one. Maybe we just had to wait for now. Thank you Holly for this much needed book. A five star rating isnt enough.
